PARIS — Lance Armstrong considers the 2010 Tour de France course “tough” because of the cobblestone sections and three punishing summit finishes in the Pyrenees.

The seven-time Tour champion attended the unveiling of the route and had lunch with French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday.

He also said more cyclists will have a chance to win thanks to the elimination of the team time trial.

Armstrong finished third at this year’s Tour after an intense rivalry with Astana teammate Alberto Contador, the eventual winner.

The 38-year-old Texan said the inclusion of some of the famous cobblestone sections that make up the Paris-Roubaix classic will be especially destabilizing in the early stages.

The course will include a total of 23 mountain passes in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and Massif Central, three more than the last race.

—From wire reports